[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 171 # Storia do Mogor 171: Death of Rajah Jaswant Singh. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 171 - **Language:** English ### Death of Rajah Jaswant Singh. ### [171.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171.1) In this same year (? 1678) died Rajah Jaswant Singh on the farther side of the river Indus. On obtaining information of this death, Aurangzeb sent an order to the viceroy to forward to court the two sons of the rajah ; he also wrote to them direct that he wished to reward the valour of their father. They came with five hundred horsemen, leaving the surplus men to find their way to their own country. When they arrived at Dihli they heard that, instead of rewarding them, Aurangzeb meant to cut off their heads. On finding this out, they fled from the city before daybreak, and posted two hundred and fifty horsemen on the bridge with twelve arches which stands opposite Humayun's mausoleum. Their orders were to hinder anyone from passing and seizing the little rajahs. In the morning Aurangzeb knew of the rajahs' flight, and at once sent a force to pursue and seize them. But the two hundred and fifty Rajputs defended the passage most valorously, and prevented anyone getting past them. Men were killed on both sides, but no one was able to pass. Then night fell, and the Rajputs who had barred the way rejoined the others who were in charge of the rajahs. Among the dead were two women clothed as men, who gladly offered their lives to defend their princes against the cruelty of Aurangzeb. ### [171.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171.2) The death of Rajah Jaswant Singh was used by Aurangzeb as an opening to oppress the Hindus still more, since they had no longer any valiant and powerful rajah who could defend them. He imposed on the Hindus a poll-tax, which everyone was forced to pay, some more, some less. Great merchants paid thirteen rupees and a half, the middle class six rupees and a quarter, and the poor three rupees and a half every year. This refers to men and not to women \[183\] ; boys began to pay as soon as they had passed their fourteenth year. Aurangzeb did this for two reasons: first, because by this time his treasures had begun to shrink owing to expenditure on his campaigns ; secondly, to force the Hindus to become Mahomedans. Many who were unable to pay turned Mahomedans, to obtain relief from the insults of the collectors. Annoyed at the flight of the rajahs, Aurangzeb took the field for a campaign against the famous Rani, wife of Jaswant Singh, although that princess had sent to the king many letters inquiring the nature of his grievance. She represented to him the privileges conceded to them by all the previous Mogul kings. But with a powerful man it is no use to argue. Thus this princess was obliged to cede to Aurangzeb a province and the town of Mairtha. Thereupon the king withdrew, having thus repaid the benefits received from Rajah Jaswant Singh, who, if he had taken the side of Dara when the troubles began, could have been of much hindrance to Aurangzeb in acquiring the sovereignty. ### [171.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171.3) After Aurangzeb had made peace with the Rani, he retired to Agrah to enjoy the palaces and gardens made by Shahjahan, his father. But he did not repose for long ; he had been born to trouble others and be troubled by them. Although he had quite as much as he could manage with Shiva Ji and the other two territories, Bijapur and Gulkandah, he sallied forth in search of further warfare. It very nearly happened that he came to entire ruin through a great rising which followed the war with the Rana which he entered upon. The beginning of this war was when Ibrahim Khan, governor and viceroy of Kashmir, in his anxiety to acquire glory, attempted and succeeded in an enterprise. It was as follows : On the confines of Kashmir is the province of Tibet, which belongs to China, divided from Kashmir by extremely high hills and chains of mountains. These are so steep that it is impossible to climb over or descend from them. But Nature taught a way of establishing friendship between the peoples, even though divided by such lofty walls. For the inhabitants carry out their intercourse with great fairness, those of the province of Tibet placing rope ladders for the descent, and when the business is over they remove these ladders. If they have no ladders, they let down their merchandise in a basket, and then carry on a conversation from the heights. In this way they conclude their bargains. ### [171.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171.4) Ibrahim Khan managed to find out that the people of the town nearest the mountains were under the necessity of coming for a pilgrimage to another town \[184\]. Through the medium of some traders in that second town he arranged that the ladders should be left hanging on the mountains. On the appointed day he sent out his soldiers, who sacked the aforesaid city, carrying off much wealth, including some gilt images of great size. Upon the return of the soldiers, Ibrahim Khan ordered the said images to be sent on to Agrah for presentation to the king. He wrote to His Majesty that he had taken the figures from the territories of China. Owing to their country being protected by inaccessible cliffs and rocks, he could not make war, but he had found a method of sending some infantry to plunder a town on a fitting opportunity. It was quite impossible to get horses over places where men had to climb by ropes. The figures arrived at Agrah, and Aurangzeb was flattered at having viceroys zealous of his honour and eager to augment his glory. Then he had an attack of envy that his vassals were able to seize idols and destroy temples, while he, at the head of his great forces and professing such bigoted Mahomedanism, was unable to carry anything out against the head of the Hindus — that is, the King Rana — though this potentate lived in the very midst of his dominions. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.171) · Pramāṇa